Geek deals: Knock 25% off the 27-inch Dell UltraSharp U2711

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We posted a few of these Geek Deals at this point, but this is my favorite so far. Dell has knocked 25% off their 27-inch 2560×1440 u2711 display. It’s an UltraSharp, in other words Dell’s professional series of displays, so it packs some very good features. These include a fast 6ms refresh rate, an extended color gamut, and a full range of connections (HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, USB, and VGA). There is even an 8-in-1 card reader.

And, in case you didn’t already know, this uses an IPS (in-plane switching) panel. That’s the tech that makes the iPhone 4 look so good, plus it also enhances visibility from sharp angles.

The u2711 normally sells for $1099, so it’s not cheap. In fact 27-inch displays still sell for hefty premiums over their 24-inch brethren, making dual 24-inchers usually a better option than a single 27- or 30-inch display. But slash the price by 25% ($274.75) and the extra resolution, as well as the prestige of an oversized display, is looking a whole lot more reasonable. This discount will bring the u2711 down to about $825, and shipping is free.

What this all comes down to is that it’s a good price on a very good display. The main thing is a nice size and a high quality panel, so the fact that it is available at a discount is a major bonus. If you want to step up in quality you are really looking at something like the HP ZR30w 30-inch, which has a 30-inch IPS panel, and sells for $1299. It’s a great display but it’s not worth the extra $470 unless you are a graphics pro (in which case you might opt for something like the NEC MultiSync PA271W)